Hunter pleads his case in Detroit for school post City school chief meets officials in quest for job.

March 08, 1991

Baltimore school Superintendent Richard C. Hunter this week met with Detroit civic leaders and education officials in the next step of his campaign for the top education job in that city.

Hunter, one of five finalists for the position of Detroit school superintendent, attended a reception with community leaders Wednesday night and had dinner with members of the Detroit Board of Education.

Yesterday's schedule included meetings with Detroit ministers and school union officials in the morning, lunch with another group of board members, and an afternoon news conference with members of the Detroit media.

In his remarks, Hunter reportedly said, "Baltimore is a very divided community" and "It's very difficult to work when you're getting directions from two different groups at the same time," apparently referring to the Baltimore school board and the mayor's office.

After a series of disagreements with the superintendent, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke decided in December not to renew Hunter's three-year contract when it expires July 31.

A selection committee is screening dozens of applications for his post.